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Missouri-based Health Innovation Giant Announces Partnership to Expand Access for COVID-19 Testing

  • May 08, 2020

Missouri-based Centene Corp., a health innovation company, is teaming up with clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics to expand COVID-19 testing access in areas of need throughout the U.S. The company plans to distribute 25,000 Quest COVID-19 test kits each week to federally qualified health centers in 10 states.

“Testing is a critical part of containing the spread of COVID-19, and preventing future outbreaks,” said Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of Centene. “We need to ensure every community has access to the testing they need, especially the most vulnerable and underserved populations.”

The collaboration leverages Centene’s extensive network of critical safety net providers to ensure that testing capacity is routed to where it is needed most. As part of the collaboration, Centene will provide oversight and training to ensure test kits are received and processed efficiently.

“COVID-19 testing is critically needed in underserved communities and our collaboration with Centene will help ensure that necessary and life-saving diagnostic testing is available to address that need,” said Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, CEO and President of Quest Diagnostics. “We are committed to serving the testing needs of Federally Qualified Health Centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This initiative is part of a broader set of actions that Centene is taking with key providers and stakeholders across the country to support safety net providers in addressing the pandemic.

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